Animal-trap.



No. 640,980. Patented Ian. 9, I900.

c. m. WILLIAMS.

ANIMAL TRAP.

(Application fil ed Jan. 4, 1899.)

CHARLES M. WILLIAMS, on Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STARNOVELTY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND RITORY.

PI-KENIX, ARIZONA TER- ANlMAL-TRAF sr'ncIFIcArIoN forming part ofLetters Patent No. 640,980, dated January 9, ieoo.

Application filed January 4, 1899- Serial No- 701,154. (No model.)

To whom it may conceive:

Be it known that I, CHARLns M. WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of myinvention is to provide a superior trap of few andinexpensive parts and which trap can be more easily set than formertraps; also, to provide a trap which will be sprung by the animalwhenever the animal approaches from either direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a trap of the characterabove stated in which the striking parts are condensed into as smallspace as possible and so constructed and arranged as to present aslittle appearance of danger as possible, so that the animal will not bewarned away.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my trap set. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the trap sprung. Fig. 3 shows another form of the trap. In thisView the trip is thrown back to exposethe jaw-operating springs.

v A indicates a base for the trap; B B, two looped jaws with their basesset together.

b 1) indicate springs at the bases of the jaws to normally press thejaws down upon the base. The jaws are preferably made of spring-wire andthe springs are preferably coils of wire, being continuations of thewires which form the jaws. These are fastened to the base by extensions1 2, the ends of which are inserted into the base and the bodies held inplace by staples 3. It is to be understood, however, that any form ofspring for pressing the jaws down may be employed without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

0 indicates the trigger, which is hinged to one of the jaws, as at c.Preferably the hinge is formed by a loop at the apex of the jaw B and aneye at the end of the trigger O.

D indicates the trigger-trip, which is hinged to the base A and extendsacross the space between the jaws and is provided with one or morecatches, as at d, for the end of the trigger O. Preferably the plate Dhas a bend or offset, as at d, to chamber a pin E, which is passedthrough the spring-coils at the axis of the jaws, thus allowing the tripto lie close to the base A.

In practice to set the trap the two jaws are brought into raisedposition, as shown in Fig.

1, and the trigger (J is brought over the jaw 13 and the end is broughtdown close to the trip D, which is raised slightly to bring the catch atto hold the end of the trigger. Then the trap is set for use. Any animalapproaching the trigger O and contacting with or rest= ing his foot uponthe trip D will withdraw the catch from the trigger O, and both jaws arethrown down simultaneously by the springs b I), thus catching theanimal. By preference the trip-plate D has one or more holes 01 near oneend, through which are inserted legs of the staples 5, which are driveninto the base to hinge the trip to the base. Before setting the trap thetrigger C may be inserted through a small piece of cheese or any othertempting morsel to tempt the animal, or the trap may be set in any runof the animal, so that the animal in passing will touch the trip-plate.

The wire loops, which form the jaws, are preferably of the same width,and in Fig. 3 a novel arrangement of, the coiled springs is shown. Thecoils b of the jaw B are arranged at the left of their respective limbsof said jaw, while the coils of the jaw B are arranged at the right ofthe respective limbs of their jaw, and the pin E is inserted through allfour coils. By this arrangement like limbs of the jaws are broughttogether and the springs are arranged symmetrically on each side of-thetrap and on each side of the limbs of the jaws, as shown.

Since the trigger-trip consists of a plate hinged at one end andextending substantially equidistant beyond the opposite sides of thejaws when they are in the set position, (the hole or holes for thetrigger being at the middle of the plate,) the trip will be sprung bythe animal approaching from either direction.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-= 1. In a trap the combination set forth ofa base; two looped jaws with their bases set together; springs to holdthe jaws normally against the base; a trigger hinged to one of thejaw-loops and adapted to extend down over the other jaw-loop when thetwo loops are brought together in araised position; and a trigger-triphinged to the base and provided with a catch to hold the end of thetrigger when the trap is set.

2. A trap comprising a base; two springpressed jaws fastened to the basewith their bases near together; a trigger hinged to one of the jaws andarranged to extend down over the other jaw when the jaws are broughttogether; and a trigger-trip hinged to the base and extending across theaxis of the jaws and provided with a catch for the end of the trigger.

3. A trap coinprisinga base; two jaws each provided with coil-springs atits base fastened to the trap-base to press the jaws respectivelyagainst the trap-base at the opposite ends thereof respectively; atrigger hinged to one of the jaws and arranged to extend down over theother jaw to hold the jaws in set position; a trigger-trip hinged to thebase and provided at its mid-length with a bend to extend over thesprings and also provided with a catch to hold the trigger when thetrapis in its set position.

4. A trap comprising a base; two jaws each provided at the oppositesides of its base with a coiled spring; a pin extending through both thecoils of both of said springs, said springs being fastened to the baseto press the jaws against the base on opposite sides of the axis of thejaws; and a trigger-trip hinged to the base and extending over thepinand provided with one or more catches to hold the trigger when in'its set position.

CHAS. M. WIL LIAMS.

Witnesses;

JAMES R TOWNS EN D, I. TOWNSEND.

